5 Menstrual Hygiene tips to keep in mind

There are a number of tips on how to maintain proper hygiene during menstruation, and the five we put forward here are those we trust you should have at your fingertips most. We kept this short so you could take all the info in, so scroll on and get woke!

Sylvester Nnyombi

Menstruation is a step into womanhood, when a girl has her period, her body is just getting rid of a small amount of blood and some unneeded substances. It is a natural, normal body process for all females as they become women and mature physically. however for most us experiencing it the first time have a challenge on whether they are practicing the right hygiene procedures or not, most especially young girls who are undergoing it for the first times or lack the guidance of an experienced person.

Did you know: 60% of women wear the wrong size of pads? And most of us don’t know how to keep hygiene during menstruation. Today, promise yourself healthy and happy periods with these hygiene tips.

Change your pad/sanitary solution regularly: To avoid conditions like urinary tract infection, vaginal infections and skin/pad rashes, you are advised to change your pad regularly, at least once every 4-6 hours for a pad and after every 2 hours for a tampon depending on the intensity of the flow.

Clean yourself tenderly and regularly and don’t use soap: No one wants to be involved with bad odour- You should clean up regularly before you change pad so as to tame the bad odour that could come out of your vagina during menstruation as blood tends to enter spaces like the skin between your labia and the area around the opening of the vagina.

Soap and other hygiene products are known to make things cleaner, but please don’t apply it to your vagina. The vagina is a self cleansing organ that works with a fine balance of good and bad bacteria thus washing it with soap is not necessary, rather, use some warm water

The right vagina washing technique: Contrary to popular belief, there is a formula/technique that should be used while cleaning the vagina so as to avoid risky complications. When washing the vagina, wash towards the anus and not the other way round- this is to avoid bacteria from the anus from entering the vagina and urethral opening that might lead to urinary tract infections.

Bathe regularly: Cliché??? I guess not, it is very important to bathe as often as possible during your menses as this will ensure that you are free from risk of many infections and bad odour. Stay fresh even during that period of the month.

Dispose off your pad properly: Menstrual hygiene doesn’t only encompass personal safety but also the safety of others. Always dispose off your pad/sanitary solution correctly so as to avoid the spread of infections and bad smell. Remember not to flush the pad down the toilet as it will cause a block and it doesn’t decompose.

The above hygiene measures are very vital to the health of any woman during menses- eating right through this period is also a plus. So, go forth live healthy and happy!

Sylvester Nnyombi

Sorry to know the reaction that your skin has against the disposable pads. Have you tried to give the reusable ones a thought?
They are cotton made, are soft and very gentle on the skin. Besides, they are also not so hard to maintain.
Read our spin off article on reusable sanitary pads here. Give them a try and see irritation go outta your life!

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Sauti is a Swahili word that means sound. The SautiPlus campaign is a unique approach that has been designed by Reach A Hand, Uganda to embrace the growing and innovative technologies in social media, radio and TV, mobile phones, print and digital media to address sexual reproductive health and rights issues that affect young people in and out of school ranging from HIV/AIDS, relationships, life skills, teenage pregnancy, child marriages and sexuality among others.